PM Gives Instruction for Public Release of Health Sector Audit Report

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has given instructions for the Minister of Health Dr. Fenton Ferguson to publish to the nation tomorrow, Friday, November 6, (earlier than originally planned) the report of an audit of the Health sector which the Minister had commissioned earlier this year. The decision was taken at a Partnership for Jamaica National Council at a meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister on Thursday, November 5, 2015. The report will be published on the website of the Ministry of Health and made available to the media.

The Partnership for Jamaica National Council comprise the Government; trade unions; the private sector; and civil society, which includes representatives from the church, women’s organisations, human rights and environmental groups, and the youth.

The partners contended that there was an issue of perception that needed to be addressed by way of issuing the report sooner than the originally planned release next week. “The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) has continued to advocate for transparency in all areas as a prerequisite for good governance.  The result of today’s Partnership Council meeting was to reinforce that, and we are pleased that the honourable Minister of Health has agreed to release the audit tomorrow in a move to improve this trust amongst civil society and the government,” said PSOJ President William Mahfood.

The Prime Minister said that “it was important to release the audit at this time. There is no attempt on the part of the Government to cover up anything. Today, we had a good productive meeting with the Partnership for Jamaica which consistently provides a platform for open and transparent discussions that generate understanding on national issues.”

Minister Ferguson also provided a comprehensive update on the improvements being undertaken in the health sector.

Other matters discussed by the Council included national security and the campaign finance reform bill.